How thoroughly do they search your checked baggage?

Question

I am flying out of JFK (NYC) on a Delta international flight.

I know they sometimes open up checked baggage and look in them. I am wondering to what extent do they do this, because I am packing some of my stuff in those vacuum seal bags that suck out all the air so I have more room. I am concerned that they will open these bags to search in them, letting in all the air, and thus not being able to get my stuff to fit in the suitcase again.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Suggest you get a bigger suitcase or take less items

Answer 2

both times i have traveled out of the country they never picked me to open my suitcase to check the luggage. in june my husband was picked to have his luggage checked in punta cana in the dominican republic. they had dog sniffers there too which was crazy. i was the one with the smuggled rum you werent suposed to bring back because of the herbs in the rum bottle! lol

Answer 3

I am not positive but I don't believe they hand check the luggage unless there is a reason too. I think it is just like going through security where they scan it. You could look up your airline on the web and see what they say.

Answer 4

They do open some cases for a hand search - it's random.  However it's down to the TSA agent opening the bag to fit everything back in!

Usually in a search they just look through for anything obviously prohibited, and back up with an x-ray.  They also wipe parts of the inside of the case with an explosive-detecting cloth.   Usually they don't open up every pack-bag.  (Have watched them search my bag several times....I wait to ensure they lock up again properly...which they always have done)

Use the bags that you roll-up to squeeze the air out instead of the ones where you need a vacuum....you probably don't have access to a vacuum in your hotel for the return journey anyway!

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